Up Coming Ducati 750 Paso conversion to reverse Trike Ala Can-Am Spyder

[aaxiss]

Bought an 88 ducati 750 paso today ( so long Plasma cutter for a while ). Going to convert it to a Can-Am style reverse Trike with an electric shifter on it and make a mount to hang my manual wheelchair off the back. should be a fun build.

Be back in a few with a photoshop rendition of what I want when done LOL

[Trip59]

Full custom front end fab or do they make a kit for something you can adapt? I'll be following this one for sure.

If I might ask, why a reverse trike?

Trip

[aaxiss]

It will be a custom front end but using a arms, from a quad and Ill install an appropriate rack and pinion unit to get rid of the bump steer normally found on quads with the central mounted tie rod connection. as for the reverse trike I am a paraplegic It wont fall over when I come to a stop. Also thus the need for the electric shifter and I just think the can am spyder is flat out cool, just cant afford one, even the used ones are running upwards of 8-10 grand. Ill be picking up the bike sometime next week and post some pics. but still had some cad designing to do before anything. Another bonus is I can actually reach everything on a bike to work on it, with a car I'm at the mercy of the local mechanic. I have an double engineering degree from CS SLO in structural and mechanical and 20 years ago when I was injured I was also a certified ASE master tech .

The Ducati has a square tube frame but I am going with round tube for aesthetics as I think it will look cleaner as you will see a bit of it.

Sorry you will just have to look up reverse trike and use your imagination .... Basically a Ducati Spyder

[Trip59]

I remember from another post your situation, I was asking why the reverse configuration, seems it'd be tougher with the bulk up front. I've looked at trikes quite a bit, I'm not in a chair (though the docs originally thought I would be) but my legs work a bit less well each year. I'm working on a design to move the clutch and shift up to the bars, electric scares me. I'd be happy to share my design with you when I get to that point. I'm on two until I can't hold one up anymore, then I'll look at a trike, but I have to add a heel shifter to my main ride this weekend, I've missed about a dozen up-shifts in the last two rides, left leg isn't working reliably enough anymore.

[sportbike]

Definitely an unusual choice of bike for a project.

I'd be a bit cautions in using an ATV frond end. Choose the parte wisely as most would not be intended for the loads encountered on the street with high pressure tires. Offroad tires are inflated to very low pressures and absorb quite a bit of the energy.

Is that a desmodromic engine or does it have springs?

[aaxiss]

DESMODROMIC

The feeble webers have been replaced with a pair of Mikuni 38 flat slides From a 900 Ducati super sport and re-jetted, as far as the arms I'm not the least bit worried. I am using arms similar to this ( see pic below ) but in standard length , these are the extended 3 + 1 arms I have on my banshee and anything that can handle 12' of air all day long at glamis I will trust on the street NP. The arms are HD Chrome Moly steel with super beefy Heim Joints. Ive already welded up a mock-up of one side and it's gonna be fine. Found a perfect little sand rail rack and pinion with quick enough steering than I wont even have to put a steering quickener on I think.

[aaxiss]

Trip.... well I'm still into the canyons and twisties A conventional trike just doesn't have the handling I would need. Ive Looked at both electric and air for the shifting and going with the electric as it works fine on the banshee, Better than the air I started with. I will also carry a suicide rod with me ( a small stainless rod I can quickly attach to the shifter and tuck between my leg and the seat ) . ( clutch in reach over with right hand quickly. up or down .... on with business ) I rode my first quad that way for 2 years LOL. They make a device that resembles training wheels but it's just not for me . take a look.

[aaxiss]

VS this

[Trip59]

I've seen systems like that, also with just pegs that come out to stabilize, and another that drops down like a center stand. The clutch/shift I'm working on replaces the left end of the bar, clutch works as normal, but whole grip/end rotates like a throttle to shift. Right leg is reliable enough, usually only pain, so I'm not concerned with the rear brake.

[aaxiss]

Well, still chuggin along, had a short diversion to the hospital.... another kidney infection, been getting IV antibiotics for 3 weeks now. Plus I have another welding table to build but the money can go to the bike build. I've started striping it down but that's not very interesting soon as I start making upgrades I'll start posting pictures. I have a Dr. Appt tomorrow morning and hopefully they will pull the pic line out.

Well that's about it... oh got a question someone may know, was I supposed to get more than just the.030 tip on my mig welder?if so seems a bit cheesy for what I paid for this unit.

Pic line . Itchy as all hell.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Steve]

I have built from scratch a tadpole (reverse) bicycle with a small engine on back. There are a few things you need to know.

First, while a reverse trike (two wheels up front), is a bit more stable than a delta (two wheels in back), they both have a problem with sudden turns. They will flip you on your side if you make sudden jerks avoiding say animals or cars. The key is to have enough width of the front wheel base to keep it stable. The other problem with making a regular motorcycle into a trike is that your CG (center of Gravity) is too high on a standard motorcycle. Most trikes that are stable and safe sit lower than a standard motorcycle and often have feet first (recumbent or reclined) seating which lowers the center of gravity and makes the bike way more stable.

The Polaris Can Am Spyder also has several safety features to keep it upright in case of sudden turns. It has anti lock brakes, anti skid technology and also a patented stabilization system that makes the bike way safer than not having it on. I've ridden one and it still sits too high for me and often feels on turns to want to tip over. I've also ridden feet first tadpole motorcycles and they feel way more stable and get way better gas mileage as the frontal area of the recumbent bikes are less and so it takes less horsepower to move them through the air. Aerodynamics will be the next important area of car and motorcycle design to achieve high MPG mandated by the government. Check out the Aptera..an enclosed motorcycle...more like a car though......http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/...n-partnership/

Designing a trike is not something to just put together. You really need to think things out and make the right decisions or you will end up on the pavement with some nice road rash or even worse.